Post by Lato on Oct 11, 2014 8:57:25 GMT
Rovers Legends – Damo
On Friday 11th May 2014, after five seasons, hundreds of appearances, about as many yellow cards, a few goals, three promotions, two cup final winners medals, and on the day the Division One championship, the Irish player, known to us as Damian Mulholland left Manchester Rovers FC. Damian returns to Belfast and a new footballing challenge (subject to international clearance). Here’s a short interview with the man himself:
Date of Birth
02/09/1982
Who do you support?
Newcastle United FC & Rep. of Ireland
Who do you think is the best footballer in the world right now? Why?
Messi without a doubt. Given his obvious physical disadvantages in terms of size and strength, his goal scoring record, quality of goals and even passing is next to none.
Which footballer did you most admire when you were growing up? Why?
Has to be Roy Keane. Not a utd fan but he was a machine for them. Not to mention the best Ireland player of all time.
How will you remember English amateur football?
Haha even with the stereotypical racist slurs of “Paddy, Pikey” and my all time favourite of shouting “Potato” in a Keith Lemon voice every time I went to kick a ball, I have nothing but fond memories of English football. Have won plenty of silverware in my time in England and enjoyed every match I ever played there.
What are the biggest differences you have found between the football you played in Ireland and the football in Manchester?
There is a lot less cursing on the football field in Manchester for a start. Tackles don’t seem to be as bad either. The standard of football is however much higher in Manchester.
What positions have you played for Rovers?
Goalkeeper, Right back, Left Back, Centre Back, Centre Midfield, Right Midfield, Striker & Sub.
What’s the best goal you’ve scored for Rovers?
Hmmm, I’m tempted to say my injury time equaliser in the final of the Subsidiary cup in 2012 but there isn’t much skill involved in a ball hitting off me and going in. My First Season for Rovers, we played a team up in Oldham, I have forgot their name now but I was playing on the right wing, the ball got crossed in from the left wing, it bounced on the edge of the 18 yard box and I caught it with the sweetest half volley in the history of football. Outside of the right foot, it curled like a Roberto Carlos free kick round the outstretched keep and into the top left hand corner of the net. I still think about it every day.
What’s the best goal you’ve seen scored for Rovers?
This is a tough question, I’ve seen a lot of goals scored for Rovers in my time. Outstanding Free kicks, individual runs, scissor kicks. As much as it pains me to admit it. Bills scored a worldy up at the uni pitches a few seasons ago. We were playing some team in the cup, the ball got hoofed aimlessly forward (Probably by me), he was at the right corner of the box, took it on his chest and hit it on the turn in the 1 move, the bloody thing dipped right over the keeper and into the far corner. Wonder goal.
Who’s the best person to have in the dressing room and why?
I’d have to say Ross Thompson. The guy is just funny. Missed his calling as a comic.
Who’s the worst person to have in the dressing room and why?
Bills, after a kebab!
Worst moment playing for the Saturdays?
Hmmm, I’ve had a few. It would probably be when I slept in for a 2pm Kick-off. Arrived for the match at half time to some serious dagger stares from the lads. Not even time to comb my hair. I hadn’t even been drinking the night before, just catching up on some well-deserved rest and over slept. I must have got abuse about that one for 2 straight seasons after. Although once I managed to convince the gaffa to let me on the pitch I managed to pop up with a wonder header from a Stu Mason Free kick cross and annoy the entire opposition team in what limited time I had on the pitch. Result!
Worst moment playing for the Sunday team?
Losing the league to Withington Posh hurt. I knew we were a better team but they just had a few solid players. Came down to goal difference between us and they just had the luck. All that hard work over the season to miss out on goal difference. Still not over it even though we were miles clear of them in the higher division the following season.
Most memorable moment playing for Rovers Saturdays?
It has to be scoring that Half-way liner for a 3-2 win. It was 2 -2, with 5 minutes to go. Their goalie came out to clear the ball to the right of his box. He hooffed it and I was standing in our half at the time, I knew the second he kicked it that I was gonna have an effort. I called the ball when it dropped on the half way line, took one touch on my left foot and then walloped it on the half-volley with my right peg. Struck the ball so sweetly. When I first hit it, the ball was heading towards the corner flag but I knew I’d got a decent bit of curl on it. It started to curve back towards the goal and I could see the keeper was struggling to get back on time. It went over his head, bounced on the 6 yard box and up into the top corner of the net.
Que the pitch invasion. Mo was straight off the bench and on to the field to celebrate with me and even Andy White couldn’t contain himself. Great Moment!
Most memorable moment playing for Rovers Sunday’s?
With all the promotions, league titles and cup wins/ finals the Sundays have been involved in this is a toughy. However I’d have to say my debut for the Sundays would be up there. Was a pre-season friendly against ‘Britons Protection pub’. Which had already got my back up for obviously political reasons ;0) We absolutely thumped them, 6 or 7 nil, but I scored 2 goals that day which I really did enjoy. Stuck it to them Brits good, my Irish forefathers would have been proud of me haha
Riccardo on Dee:
“Dee stay on your feet!!”
Owen on Dee:
"The perfect mixture of referees' best friend and Roy Keane before anger management"
Andy White on Dee:
“The Enforcer: hated to play against, loved to play with”
Mo on Dee:
“Tenacious”
Ross on Dee:
“The man. The machine. The human irritant. Thank god he played for us because a) he was very good at Sunday league makalele type football and b) an absolute annoyance guaranteed to start an argument in a silent Franciscan monastery. His best friend and nemesis - Barry Murdoch. That sums him up perfectly. An idiotic genius.”
On Friday 11th May 2014, after five seasons, hundreds of appearances, about as many yellow cards, a few goals, three promotions, two cup final winners medals, and on the day the Division One championship, the Irish player, known to us as Damian Mulholland left Manchester Rovers FC. Damian returns to Belfast and a new footballing challenge (subject to international clearance). Here’s a short interview with the man himself:
Date of Birth
02/09/1982
Who do you support?
Newcastle United FC & Rep. of Ireland
Who do you think is the best footballer in the world right now? Why?
Messi without a doubt. Given his obvious physical disadvantages in terms of size and strength, his goal scoring record, quality of goals and even passing is next to none.
Which footballer did you most admire when you were growing up? Why?
Has to be Roy Keane. Not a utd fan but he was a machine for them. Not to mention the best Ireland player of all time.
How will you remember English amateur football?
Haha even with the stereotypical racist slurs of “Paddy, Pikey” and my all time favourite of shouting “Potato” in a Keith Lemon voice every time I went to kick a ball, I have nothing but fond memories of English football. Have won plenty of silverware in my time in England and enjoyed every match I ever played there.
What are the biggest differences you have found between the football you played in Ireland and the football in Manchester?
There is a lot less cursing on the football field in Manchester for a start. Tackles don’t seem to be as bad either. The standard of football is however much higher in Manchester.
What positions have you played for Rovers?
Goalkeeper, Right back, Left Back, Centre Back, Centre Midfield, Right Midfield, Striker & Sub.
What’s the best goal you’ve scored for Rovers?
Hmmm, I’m tempted to say my injury time equaliser in the final of the Subsidiary cup in 2012 but there isn’t much skill involved in a ball hitting off me and going in. My First Season for Rovers, we played a team up in Oldham, I have forgot their name now but I was playing on the right wing, the ball got crossed in from the left wing, it bounced on the edge of the 18 yard box and I caught it with the sweetest half volley in the history of football. Outside of the right foot, it curled like a Roberto Carlos free kick round the outstretched keep and into the top left hand corner of the net. I still think about it every day.
What’s the best goal you’ve seen scored for Rovers?
This is a tough question, I’ve seen a lot of goals scored for Rovers in my time. Outstanding Free kicks, individual runs, scissor kicks. As much as it pains me to admit it. Bills scored a worldy up at the uni pitches a few seasons ago. We were playing some team in the cup, the ball got hoofed aimlessly forward (Probably by me), he was at the right corner of the box, took it on his chest and hit it on the turn in the 1 move, the bloody thing dipped right over the keeper and into the far corner. Wonder goal.
Who’s the best person to have in the dressing room and why?
I’d have to say Ross Thompson. The guy is just funny. Missed his calling as a comic.
Who’s the worst person to have in the dressing room and why?
Bills, after a kebab!
Worst moment playing for the Saturdays?
Hmmm, I’ve had a few. It would probably be when I slept in for a 2pm Kick-off. Arrived for the match at half time to some serious dagger stares from the lads. Not even time to comb my hair. I hadn’t even been drinking the night before, just catching up on some well-deserved rest and over slept. I must have got abuse about that one for 2 straight seasons after. Although once I managed to convince the gaffa to let me on the pitch I managed to pop up with a wonder header from a Stu Mason Free kick cross and annoy the entire opposition team in what limited time I had on the pitch. Result!
Worst moment playing for the Sunday team?
Losing the league to Withington Posh hurt. I knew we were a better team but they just had a few solid players. Came down to goal difference between us and they just had the luck. All that hard work over the season to miss out on goal difference. Still not over it even though we were miles clear of them in the higher division the following season.
Most memorable moment playing for Rovers Saturdays?
It has to be scoring that Half-way liner for a 3-2 win. It was 2 -2, with 5 minutes to go. Their goalie came out to clear the ball to the right of his box. He hooffed it and I was standing in our half at the time, I knew the second he kicked it that I was gonna have an effort. I called the ball when it dropped on the half way line, took one touch on my left foot and then walloped it on the half-volley with my right peg. Struck the ball so sweetly. When I first hit it, the ball was heading towards the corner flag but I knew I’d got a decent bit of curl on it. It started to curve back towards the goal and I could see the keeper was struggling to get back on time. It went over his head, bounced on the 6 yard box and up into the top corner of the net.
Que the pitch invasion. Mo was straight off the bench and on to the field to celebrate with me and even Andy White couldn’t contain himself. Great Moment!
Most memorable moment playing for Rovers Sunday’s?
With all the promotions, league titles and cup wins/ finals the Sundays have been involved in this is a toughy. However I’d have to say my debut for the Sundays would be up there. Was a pre-season friendly against ‘Britons Protection pub’. Which had already got my back up for obviously political reasons ;0) We absolutely thumped them, 6 or 7 nil, but I scored 2 goals that day which I really did enjoy. Stuck it to them Brits good, my Irish forefathers would have been proud of me haha
Riccardo on Dee:
“Dee stay on your feet!!”
Owen on Dee:
"The perfect mixture of referees' best friend and Roy Keane before anger management"
Andy White on Dee:
“The Enforcer: hated to play against, loved to play with”
Mo on Dee:
“Tenacious”
Ross on Dee:
“The man. The machine. The human irritant. Thank god he played for us because a) he was very good at Sunday league makalele type football and b) an absolute annoyance guaranteed to start an argument in a silent Franciscan monastery. His best friend and nemesis - Barry Murdoch. That sums him up perfectly. An idiotic genius.”